Finding the final Desire Stone didn't take long at all.
Rinto let his teammates handle most of the battles, guiding them as a mentor rather than directly intervening, and they continued at a brisk pace.
Only the room containing the last Desire Stone had powerful Shadows guarding it, clearly marking the darkest secret Kamoshida desperately wanted hidden.
But, naturally, it posed no obstacle to the newly formed Phantom Thieves.
"[Cinderella—Spacial Rend]!"
Charging forward with fearless energy, Sumire's Persona sliced through the Shadow with a fierce, precise kick, scattering it into countless fragments.
The group then stepped into a room so distorted by desire that it barely resembled Kamoshida's Palace. Instead, it appeared frozen as a scene from an ordinary restaurant.
Rinto signaled everyone to brace themselves, then grasped the Desire Stone.
Instantly, the stagnant scene sprang to life.
"I'm really sorry! I have no idea how many people I've troubled because of this…"
A remorseful Kamoshida buried his head against the table, repeatedly apologizing to the manager seated across from him.
"The two commercials I just signed, our company's reputation… even the national team's honor… How can I possibly make up for this? If news spreads, I'll become infamous—I'll be remembered forever as a criminal…!"
"Sh-should I turn myself in right now? I'll confess everything, admit I used drunkenness as an excuse when I forced myself on that woman from the TV station…"
"It's all right, Kamoshida-san."
His manager remained perfectly calm, smiling reassuringly and patting him on the shoulder.
"We've already settled things with the woman from the station. We're actually here today to tell you the good news."
"…What?"
Kamoshida looked up blankly, stunned.
His manager continued smoothly:
"That woman won't press charges. In exchange, next year she'll get to host her own program. You're still our great volleyball king, our sports hero! I promise this won't affect you at all."
"Besides, after this incident, we've thought things through. A healthy man like you naturally has certain needs, right? I'll tell you privately—this sort of thing happens all the time. Your teammates started doing it long ago."
"So, whenever you have these kinds of needs in the future, just inform me. As long as you don't cross any serious lines, our company can handle it all for you."
"That's just how society works. It's perfectly natural! You've worked so hard for so many years—you're practically the king of the volleyball world! Enjoying a bit of royal privilege won't incur divine punishment. Everyone will forgive you!"
…Thump!
The strongest sense of liberation yet, a sinful and indescribable joy surged through Kamoshida.
Any guilt or shame he felt quickly shrank, overwhelmed by an infinitely greater pleasure—an intoxicating vanity enveloping his entire being.
"—I AM THE KING!"
Kamoshida's Shadow suddenly appeared before the thieves.
This laughable, absurd king—clad in the invisible robes society had crafted for him—flaunted his twisted desires shamelessly:
"It was you—all of you! You made this palace for me! You turned me into your idol! You handed me this power! I've done nothing wrong; everything is justified! I earned this right with my own hard work! HAHAHA!"
"—You scumbag!" Ann shouted furiously, releasing an inferno that engulfed all illusions instantly.
Rinto now held three Desire Stones, and everyone had clearly witnessed Kamoshida's undeniable true memories.
He concluded firmly:
"This was the catalyst that created Kamoshida's Palace, the moment his desires twisted out of control. Before, he might've been just an earnest, simple-minded athlete—but not after this."
"So what do you think? Kamoshida's Treasure should be nearby. Soon we can force him to change. If anyone wants to back out, this is your last chance."
He looked around at each teammate, giving them the chance to speak.
The Yoshizawa twins shared a glance, silently stepping closer to Rinto.
They had no personal grudge against Kamoshida, never interacting with him in real life. They simply chose to follow Rinto's lead, supporting him wholeheartedly.
Ann was still visibly upset, fists clenched and trembling slightly, clearly deep in thought.
Only Ryuji remained openly confused, scratching his head:
"To be honest, I'm still kinda lost about what exactly happened."
"But from what I get, Kamoshida did something terrible and originally planned to turn himself in. But his manager covered it up for him—said it was fine even if he did stuff like that again because he had special privileges, right?"
"And that's when Kamoshida's desires twisted. His guilt vanished, and he never thought about turning himself in again. Did I get that right?"
Then Ryuji's expression shifted, turning fiercely resolute:
"If that's the case, what's there to hesitate about? Kamoshida did something wrong, and people around him covered it up, turning him even worse! Isn't that simple? Our job's to expose these bad guys who never faced consequences!"
"I'm even more fired up now! Once we handle Kamoshida, let's go after that company next! Didn't his manager say 'your teammates have been doing it for ages'? That means there are tons of villains out there—we Phantom Thieves won't be running out of work anytime soon!"
…Whoa.
Ryuji's straightforward logic was unexpectedly clear and powerful.
Rinto couldn't help laughing aloud, slapping Ryuji proudly on the shoulder.
"Ryuji, seriously—you're perfect for this job!"
"You're exactly right. Kamoshida might not have been born evil, but he certainly is evil now. Our mission remains the same: force him to change, make him repent, and bring justice to those he harmed—while protecting potential future victims."
Rinto turned to each teammate in turn.
In the past, these thoughts were his alone to bear, conclusions drawn in isolation with nobody to share them with.
But now, finally, he could speak openly:
"The deeper truth is, the ones who turned Kamoshida into this monster are the countless others in society. They create unspoken rules, exploiting and hurting the weak to fulfill their desires, and treating it as something natural."
"But it's absolutely wrong. Even if society turns a blind eye and tacitly accepts these terrible things as normal, I refuse to compromise. If our extraordinary powers have any meaning, it's to resist this injustice and do what we believe is right."
"Ohhh—well said, Leader!" Ryuji shouted excitedly, immediately extending his hand, eagerly waving for Rinto to join him.
Chuckling, Rinto placed his hand atop Ryuji's, then glanced around, waiting for the others.
The Yoshizawa twins didn't hesitate, immediately joining in:
"You already saved our lives, Rinto-senpai, so of course we'll follow you anywhere. And besides, I really think this is the right thing—don't you, Sumire?"
"Yes! I want to keep fighting by your side, Senpai!"
Ann quickly reached out too. "Count me in!"
She glared playfully at Rinto, pouting indignantly:
"I was just mad at how cowardly Kamoshida was for shirking responsibility—I never said I didn't want to make him change! If he'd had any spine, he would've refused that cover-up and honestly faced his mistakes!"
"If you did wrong, just own up to it properly—that's the only way anyone can forgive you! Using others' enabling as an excuse is pathetic! Let's expose these corrupt adults so nobody else gets hurt!"
"Mrrrow~"
Following feline logic that dictated paws belonged on top, Morgana enthusiastically leaped onto their joined hands.
Together, they tossed Morgana gently into the air—marking the Phantom Thieves' true beginning.
Now, only one final step remained before stealing the Treasure.